After more than 900 police calls since 2013, a Newark motel off Del. 896 has been declared a criminal nuisance property by Delaware's Department of Justice.
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Operators of the Rodeway Inn, at 1110 and 1120 S. College Ave. in Newark, have agreed to a court-ordered plan to reduce criminal activity or risk losing the property, Delaware's Department of Justice announced Thursday.(Photo: Alonzo Small/The News Journal)Buy Photo

After more than 900 calls for police services since 2013, a Newark motel off Del. 896 has been declared a criminal nuisance property by Delaware's Department of Justice.

Following action by Attorney General Matt Denn's office, operators of Rodeway Inn, at 1110 and 1120 S. College Ave., have agreed to a court-ordered plan to reduce criminal activity or risk losing the property, the DOJ announced Thursday.

The motel has been the site of criminal investigations and arrests, including one of Delaware's most infamous crimes.

In November 1996, two young adults — Amy Grossberg, a University of Delaware freshman, and Brian Peterson — discarded their baby in the trash minutes after he was born at the motel, then called the Comfort Inn.

The infant's corpse was found a day later in the motel's trash bin. Police revealed the infant had died from multiple fractures as a result of blunt-force trauma and shaking.

Grossberg and Peterson both pleaded guilty to manslaughter, according to The News Journal archives. Peterson and Grossberg served 24 months and 30 months, respectively, before their releases in 2000.

Most recently, as stated in the complaint, Newark police have made arrests at the motel for prostitution, drug sales and sexual assaults.

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Operators of the Rodeway Inn, at 1110 and 1120 S. College Ave. in Newark, have agreed to a court-ordered plan to reduce criminal activity or risk losing the property, Delaware's Department of Justice announced Thursday.(Photo: Alonzo Small/The News Journal)

Under the state’s Criminal Nuisance Abatement Act, the Attorney General encourages "owners, landlords, operators and managers of buildings, places or premises to take the affirmative steps necessary to prevent violations on their properties."

Failure to comply with the court-issued stipulations will result in criminal prosecution, civil liability and closure of the property, according to court documents. Operators of the Rodeway Inn motel must complete the following:

Install daytime and nighttime video surveillance system.

Make a good faith effort to get a photo ID from anyone who registers for or stays in a room.

Ensure everyone on the property after 8 p.m. is registered to a room or is told to leave the property.

Hire a reputable security company with an on-site security guard between 5 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Post a sign stating the property is “Drug and Prostitution Free” and that any prostitution, illegal drug activity or other criminal activity is prohibited and will result in criminal prosecution.

An “enforcement agreement” is also in place with the property owner. It requires the property owner to seek possession of the property from the motel operators if the court should order the closure of the property or terminate the motel operators’ lease on the property.

“It is a sad fact that there are some business and residential properties in our state that, through neglect, serve as magnets for crime and require a disproportionate amount of police attention, and this motel has been one of them,” Denn said in a statement. “The operators of this motel are now obligated by court order to aggressively address the criminal behavior that has become a regular occurrence there or face being forced to close the motel if police calls, complaints, and arrests continue.”

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Operators of the Rodeway Inn, at 1110 and 1120 S. College Ave. in Newark, have agreed to a court-ordered plan to reduce criminal activity or risk losing the property, Delaware's Department of Justice announced Thursday.(Photo: Alonzo Small/The News Journal)

Lt. Fred Nelson, a Newark Police Department spokesman, said officers worked with the Attorney General's Office to get the order in place.

"The department is happy that the deal has come to fruition," he said.

Deputy Attorneys General Roopa Sabesan and William Kassab handled the matter for the Department of Justice.